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(No Model.) C; E. MASON. 4 Bracelet and Similar Articles of Jewelry. N.' 240,915.

'Patented May v3, 18813.'

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WITNESSEEN I Ma 'lk/2M ww I Hmey.

N. PEYERS. VFNol'nvLvlTl-lOGRAMER. WASMINGTUN, D C.

y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. MASON, OF AlTLEB'OROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

BRACELET AND SIMILAR ARTICLES OF JEWELRY.

V SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,915, dated May 3, 1881.

Application led March 25, 1881. (No model.) I V VTo all lwhom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES E. MASON, of Attleborough, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bracelets and Similar Articles of Jewelry; and I do hereby declare that the following specitication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part ot` the same,is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Myinvention relates to bracelets, scarf-rin gs, and other articles of jewelry having a general annular form, and principally to those classes of these articles which are made self-closing by a spring which returns the arms or wings to and retains them in a closed position.

My improvements consists, first, in locating the joint of a bracelet or similar article about midway between the termini of the major and minor axes, whereby the flat side nearest the joint may be provided with an extensive inte-- gral ornament, which will cover the joint and conceal it from View; or, as in a self-closing bracelet, the free` ends of the wings may be separated and ornamented as in the ancient cyprus bracelets, and the joint be concealed from view as much as possiblewhen the bracelet is on the arm, and yet be located so as not to be liable to deface any article upon which the arm may rest; second, in combining a spiral spring with the wings in such a manner tha-t it will be longitudinally compressed when they are opened, and the efficiency of the spring thereby be preserved regardless of the length of time which the bracelet is used 5 third, in arranging the spring to form a stop `to too great an opening of the rings by bringing its convolutions into contact when said wings have been sufficiently separated.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l shows my improved bracelet with the joint located' about midway between the termini ot the major and minor axes, and with the free ends of the wings separated and ornamented. Fig. 2 represents the same partially in section, showing the manner ot' connecting the spring to the wings. Fig. 3 represents a modification of my improvement; and Fig. 4 shows a bracelet with the joint located about midway between the 5o termini of the major and minor axes, but concealed by an extensive integral ornament located on the flat side nearest said joint.

A A' are'the wings ot' the bracelet, which 'are hinged together at a.

B is a spiral spring, which is mounted on a wire, C, passing through said spring and having a headed end, c, and a looped end, c. The spring B is contracted when in normal condition, and is confined between the head c of the wire G and a sleeve,D,mounted on the looped end ot' said wire, the said sleeve being soldered or otherwise secured to the wing A, near its joint end.

Located in and secured to the joint end of the wing A is a hook, E, Fig. 2, with which the looped end c' ofthe wire U is connected to secure the closing of the wings.` The opening ot' the wing` A', as shown by dotted lines, longitudinall y contracts the spring B, and when said wing is released the longitudinal expansion of `the spring returns the wing to its former position.

The springB is preferably' of such a length and the distance between its convolutions such thatthe opening ot the wings to a proper eX- tent will bring the coils of the spring into contact, thereby forming a stop to a further extension of the wings.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,' the ends of the wings are separated and ornamented, and the location of the jointe is such as to be concealed lfrom view as much as possible when the bracelet is on the arm, and yet so located as 'not to deface any object on which the arm may rest.

In the modification of my improvement shown in Fig. 3 the hook E, instead of being secured directly to the win g A', is mounted on a headed wire, C', which passes through a spring, B', the said spring being confined between the headed end of said wire and a sleeve, D', mounted on the wire and attached to the wing A. The action ot' this construction is practically thesamc as that shown in Fig. 2.

In mounting the parts of the bracelet the spring B, wire G, and sleeve D 'are inserted in 95 IOO nected to the hook E, and the bracelet is com-y plete. Thus it will be seen that this construction admits of an easy and ready combination of the parts, which is of importance in the cconomical manufacture of the articles.

In the bracelet shown in Fig. 4 the iiat side nearest the joint a is provided with an extensive integral ornament, F, which conceals the joint. This bracelet is Worn upon the arm in a position the reverse of the bracelet shown in Figs. l and 2, the ornamental portions in either construction being upon the upper side ofthe arm.

Although I have shown my improved means for closing a bracelet as applied to one whose joint is located about midway between the termini of the major and minor axes, the said inea-us are applicable to a bracelet having its joint located in any position.

The advantage of a bracelet having my improved means of closing the wings over bracelets as heretofore constructed which employ either flat or spiral springs is, that in the latter the springs are liable to become inoperative by breaking or stretching, while a bracelet provided with my improved means will always be opcrative,since the spring can nei ther stretch or break, or, if it should break, it would act equally well.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl. A bracelet or similar article having its wings jointed together at or near a point midway between the adjacent termini of its major and minor axes, substantially as set forth.

2. A bracelet or similar article having'its wings jointed together at or near a point midway between the adjacent termini of its major and minor axes, and having an ornament ceutrally located on the liat side nearest the joint and coveringthe said joint, substantially as set forth.

l 3. A selfclosing bracelet or similar article composed of hinged wings which are jointed together at or near a point midway between the adjacent termini ot' its major and minor axes, the free ends of said wings being sepa rated when in normal position and ornamented, substantially as set forth.

4.. In combination with the jointed wings of a bracelet or similar article, a spiral spring located in and bearing upon one of said wings, with its end farthest from the joint connected with the adjoining wing, whereby the spring is longitudinally compressed when the wings are opened and longitudinally expands to close the Wings, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with thejointed wings of a bracelet or similar article, a spiral spring located in and bearing upon one of said wings, with its end farthest from the joint connected with the adjoining Wing, the said spring being arranged, as described, so that the contact ot' its coils will form a stop to too great an opening ofthe wings, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the jointed Wings of a bracelet or similar article, a spiral spring located in and having an end bearing near the joint ot' one of the wings and a headed wire engaging the opposite end of said spring passV ing through it and connecting with the adjoining wing, substantiallyas andfor the purposes set forth.

7. ln a self-closing bracelet or similar article, the combination, with thejointed wings, of a spiral spring, B, a headed and looped Wire, C, and a sleeve, D, secured in one ot' said win gs, and a hook, E, secured in the joint end of the adjoining wing and engaging the loop end of the wire C, substantially as described and shown.

CHARLES E. MASON.

Witnesses:

EDsoN SALIsBUuY J oNEs, W. H. THURsToN. 

